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'
THE B R 0 A D
AX
SCENTS
per copy
VOL.XXVH.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10-192
No. 33
4
rgead The Broad Ax and be
happy
The Giles Avenue Dedicatory Exercises and the Unveiling
of the Bronze Tablet, at the Eighth Regiment Armory Last
Saturday Afternoon, in Honor of the Memory of the Late
Lieutenant, George L..Giles, and One Hundred and Forty One
Other Members Belonging to the Eighth Regiment, Who Lost
Their Lives on the Battlefields of France, Was a History
Making Event.
MAYOR WILLIAM HALE THOMPSON,
MAJOR GENERAL MILTON J.
FOREMAN, GENERAL CARLOS E.
BLACK, ADJUTANT GENERAL
STATE OF ILLINOIS; THOMAS H.
CANNON, HIGH CHIEF RANGER'dF
THE CATHOLIC ORDER OF FOR
ESTERS; REV. FATHER JOSEPH
ECKARDT, PASTOR OF ST. MON
ICA ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH,
ANDCOL. QTJS.B, DUNCAN,. COM
MANDING THE EIGHTH REGI
MENT ILLINOIS NATIONAL
GUARD, WERE THE LEADING
SPEAKERS.
HON. EDWARD H. WRIGHT ABLY
AND BRILLIANTLY SERVED AS
MASTER OF CEREMONIES, AND
MRS. CARRIE WARNER, WITH BE
COMING MODESTY AND DIGNITY,
REMOVED THE VEIL FROM THE
BRONZE TABLET CONSTRUCTED
TO THE MEMORY OF THEXATE
LIEUT. GEORGE L. GILES.
On last Saturday afternoon thou
sands of people attended the Giles
Avenue DedicatorysExercises and the
wvefling of the bronze tablet con
itructed on the side of the Eighth
Regiment Armory in honor! of the
memories ' of the late Xieutehant
George L. Giles and the other one
hundred and forty-one members of
the Eighth Regiment who lost their
foes on the bloody battlefields -of
France and to iurther honor the mem
ory of lieutenant Giles for all time
to come, -who was the first and only
officer of the old Eighth Regiment to
offer up his bright and promising
young life in far away France for his
country, Forest avenue has been
changed from 31st street to 39th -street
to Giles avenue, .and a row of beautiful
trees was recently planted which will
' also redound lo liis memory, and if we
mistake not, it was the very first time
in the history of this country that the
officials in any part of it have
changed the .name of any street in
order to honor the name, of any col
ored man; but Chicago being one of
the greatest cities In the world, and
the vast majority of its citizens being
kir minded and progressive, she al
ays does things on a large and last
ing scale and thk was sot the first or
only time that she has honored the
emory of a colored maa, for oaany
years ago she named the John Jones
School in honor of the memory or
John Jones, wno was the first colored
man to be elected one of the commis
sioners of Cook County, and at that
time he was the most progressive and
representative colored business man
residing in this city.
Prior to the speaking from the plat
form, which had been constructed at
the north end of the Armory for the
occasion and the unveiling of the
bronze tablet, a parade was .formed
which wended its way north on Giles
avenue to 31st street, east on that
street to Calumet avenue, south on
that avenue to 39th street, west on
39th to Giles avenue, north 6n that
avenue to the Eighth Regiment Ar
mory. It was headed by CoL Otis B. Dun
can, commanding the Eighth Regi
ment, and CoL H. H. Biggs, head of
Knights of Pythias throughout the
State of Illinois, and staff officers of
the Regiment, including: Lieut. CoL
John It Pattou, Major J. R. White,
Captain and Chaplain W. S. Braddan,
Captain R. A. J. Shaw, Captain C
Spencer Dickerson and others who
were followed by the famous Eighth
Regiment Band, by two companies of
soldiers by the K. P. Band Uniform
Rank, Knights of Pythias, and Odd
Fellows and by a number of ladies
representing those and other orders.
They were costumed in pure white
from head to foot and with their beau
tiful rich flowing capes they made a
fine impression as they proudly and
gracefully marched through the streets
and played their part well in assisting
to honor the memory of the late Lieu
tenant George L. Giles.
The following was the order of the
exercises at the Eighth Regiment
Annoryi j.
DEDICATORY EXERCISES AND UNVEILING OF THE
BRONZE TABLET AT THE EIGHTH REGIMENT AR
MORY LAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON WAS WITNESSED-
BY MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AS
THE ABOVE ILLUSTRATION INDICATES.
Giles Ave. Dedicatory Exercises and
Unveiling of Bronze Tablet
Illinois Division, Band; Master of
Ceremonies, Hon. Edward H. Wright?
Invocation, Capt William S. Braddan,
Chaplain; Unveiling of Tablet, Mrs.
Carrie Warner; "Nearer My God to
Thee," Band; "Decoration Day," A.
S. Frazier Anderson; Chicago, Hon.
William Hale Thompson; "Gty Coun
cil," Aid. L. B. Anderson; Illinois Na
tional Guard, Gen. Carlos E. Black,
Adj. Gen. State' of Illinois; "Illinois,"
Band; The Division, Major Gen. Mil
ton J. Foreman; "My Country Tis of
Thee," Band; "The Eighth Regi
ment," Col. John R. Marshall; "Mar
seillaise," Band; "Lieutenant George
L. Giles," CoL Franklin A. Denison;
"Giles American Legion Post," Lt
Earl Dickerson; "Giles Avenue,"
Major Robert R. Jackson; "National
Emblem," Band; "Patriotism," Father
Joseph Eckhardt; "Catholic Order of
Foresters," Thomas H. Cannon, Chief
Ranger; Dedicatory Remarks, CoL
Otis B. Duncan; Star Spangled Ban
ner, Band.
.Metropolitan Community Center
Choir rendered selections as the parade
passed the Metropolitan Community
House, 3118-20-22 Giles Ave.
General Carlos E Black, "Adj.-Gen-cral
State of Illinois, delivered the
following oration which is full of solid
facts or thoughts:
I am greatly honored in being
given the privilege to be present at
these dedicatory ceremonies.
"Today, we do honor to those who
made the supreme sacrifice upon the
1far of their country, and by so do
ing, we demonstrate our appreciation
of their service and the services ot
their comrades.
"Others here today, whose com
mand of the language Is much greater
than mine, will speak more ably on
that subject
"The deeds, however, of the officers
and men of the Eighth Infantry are
already, indelibly written on the pages
of history. For bravery in action in
the face of the enemy, the United
States has taken official cognizance
and even foreign countries have rec
ognized the gallantry of its members
by awarding their decorations.
"These are traditions upon which
the organization of today may well be
built
"Their service in time of peace, pre
vious to the great cbnflict was the
basis of their efficient services when
the great calr came and such is their
service today.
"I feel that I would be remiss in my
duty if I did not take advantage of
this opportunity to place before you
just what the National Guard is to
day. "The National Guard is an Insur
ance. It is as old a form as the Con
stitution of the United States where it
is first and most wisely provided for.
"The .National Guard is an organi
zation that encourages and fosters the
upbuilding of the young man in your
community, not only physically but
morally, and by so doing makes him a
better citizen to live in the community
and to enjoy the manifold blessings
of citizenship which is guaranteed by
the flag that he follows.
"Look about you and note the con
trast between the man with service
and other chaps their own age. They
look healthier, they think more quick
ly, and tfhile there are a few who
have not increased in value and char
acter, but the majority of them have
a far better knowledge of their fel
lowman and, although, khaki may
come a long ways from producing a
perfect man, it Improves the value of
a large per cent The ex-service men
as a rule are courteous, straightfor
ward, upstanding and considerate.
"The National Guard organization
is an institution legally created and
accepted by the Government and State,
and is a fixed and important part of
a large comprehensive scheme of Na
tional and community defense and
protection at a minimum of cost
"It provides a sizeable citizen sol
dier for domestic and other needs suffi
cient for any first emergency demands,
at a minimum cost to 'the taxpayers.
It keeps down to minimum numbers
and cost of the Regular Army. This
National Guard movement is a great
big serious National affair. It is a
serious effort for the most inexpen
sive National preparation possible un
der present sentiment and conditions.
"It involves a great degree of train
ing and study on the part of the of
ficers and men and has nothing to do
with what is sometimes a local idea of
a military company being a bunch of
tin soldiers and roisterers, always
ready for "fun," "frolic," or a "trip" at
somebody's else expense. On the con
trary, there is involved rigid training,
instruction, and discipline supervised
by experienced officers.
"All cost of equipment uniforms,
clothing, arms and all that a soldier
needs, is defrayed by the Federal Gov
ernment "The small amount of time demand
ed for drills and field training namely:
once a week anribry drill and two
weeks annually for field training, .is
also paid for by the Federal Govern
ment "All that is required of the com
munity is to provide a suitable arm
ory and a storage place for the com
pany for which rent will be paid, and
to give a generous amount of moral
support friendliness and encourage
ment "In order that the local organiza
tion be a success, a community inter
est In all quarters must be main-
i. c, establishing military guard, dis
tribution of food and shelter, rescue'
work, preservation of health, commun
ity sanitation and matters generally
pertaining to a quick recovery, and
restoration to normal. What other
established agency, moral or otherwise
can do this?
"The young men composing the Na
tional Guard units have a greater right
to consider their;organization a proper
protege of the community than many
other organizations, associations and
clubs, fostered and supported by the
community at a vastly greater cost
They are equally citizens, representa
tive young men taxpayers. They are
a strong moral influence against law
lessness. "The moral effect alone of a well
ordered National Guard organization
in a community may prevent the loss
mrnr woman and .childrep.
tained that there will be permanently
established a moral support and con
stant atmosphere of encouragement
and public interest
The organization must be an
acknowledged, accepted, desirable and
fixed feature in the community.
"It really ranks among the most
potent factors for the preservation of
law and order and the protection of
life and property in the country at
large and in the states, counties, cit
ies and towns.
"The National Guard personnel rep
resents 100 per -cent young American
patriotic blood of the community and
all that that stands for. It stands for
good morals, health, exercises and
useful training. It is a tangible, con
crete and practical expression of
patriotic citizenship and fits the young
man to render service of incalculable
value when law and order are vio
lated in the country and the state
needs them.
"With a reasonable amount of moral
and very little financial support, the
armory of a properly conducted mili
tary organization can be made an at
tractive, homelike, clublike, social and
entertainment community center and
thereby an agency for decent and re
fined associations, good morals and a
desirable rendezvous for soldiers and
citizens.
"An agency which is. properly con
ducted will equal in this good moral
results any already established in the
community. It is a moral agency with
'physical and military training, that in
time pf trouble, can turn out an or
ganized body for the protection of the
community.
,In time pf flood, or other calamity,
the armory Immediately becomes
available as, the proper center for or
ganizing and conducting the many
civic military activities necessary for
the relief of a stricken community,
to say nothing 6f the loss of hundreds
of thousands of dollars worth of prop
erty. It is in many ways a splendid
insurance to the community at a very
small premium cost It is against no
association, organization, or union, but
for law, order and protection only.
"And knowing the National Guard
as I do, with all of its wonderful tradi
tions in all wars from the time of the
Revolution to the last great World
War, and the many services it has ren
dered in times of peace, under equally
distressing circumstances, with all
these behind it and that same spirit of
service permeating its ranks as fknow
it is, I feel that you can safely rely on
the Eighth Infantry of the Illinois
National Guard to protect that flag
anda to act as nobly in the future in an
emergency as it has in the past"
Col. franklin A. Denison, who as
commander'of the Eighth Regiment at
the timc it departed for the battle
fields of France and trained or drilled
his men so well that they were able to
join the Thirty-third Division six
weeks ahead of any of the other units
and by reason of the fact they were
the first American troops . to be
shoved or rushed to the front in
double quick time as soon as they
landed on French soil and lead off in
the thickest of the fighting.
Read the following sketch of the
life of Lieutenant George L. piles, at
the same time paying a glowing trib
ute to his memory:
. "George L. Giles was born in Chi
cago, September 21, 1895. He attend
ed the St. Brendon School until he
reached the age of 13 years. He was
graduated from the John P. Altgeld
School, 1371 W. 71st St, Chicago, in
1910. He enlisted in the Eighth In
fantry, Illinois National Guard, June
19, 1916. He was appointed Corporal
June 26, 1916. He was appointed Ser
geant July IS, 1916, was afterward ap
pointed Battalion Sergeant Major and
served in this capacity throughout the
Mexican border service in 1916. He
was commissioned Second Lieutenant
of Infantry January 9", 1918, and as
signed to Company G. He was kilted
in action with his company at Grand-elup-et-Fay,
France, October 29, 1918;
He was buried with full military hon
ors at Chambry, France. Bepeft a
father and a host of friends to mourn
his loss."
Mr. Giles, the aged father of Lieu
tenant Giles, was honored with a seat
on the platform, and Miss Florence
Deneen, sister of Hon. Charles S. De
neen, who was his teacher, at the time
he graduated from the Altgeld School,
also occupied a seat on the platform"
and felt greatly pleased at the way in
which the memory of one of Jicr ou
pils was being honored.' ... ,"-.
All in all it was a history-raakwg
event among the white and colored
citizens residing within the broad wall
of the great city of Chicago.
.sAiltaiJhfc'ai&-1